Role of Genetic Counselors and Genetic Services in Medical Care

The number of genetic tests available in recent years has increased dramatically. Thus, the medical community has a greater need for genetic services, specifically genetic counselors, to translate and make sense of complicated information. Genetic counselors aid in the process of decision making through means of non-directive counseling, translating the language of genomics into terms that will help the client make informed decisions about their pregnancy. In a study utilizing 39 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with genetic counselors, clinical geneticists, obstetricians, and key informants in the genetics field, the role of genetic services in the medical care was explored. Results from this study demonstrated that genetic counselors are not well integrated within the current medical system of care. Because genetic counselors are not licensed in most states, the costs of genetic counseling services are often not covered by insurance companies, often leading genetic counselors to be on the fringe of patient care, located in no consistent fashion across the spectrum of medical services. Since there are no particular boundaries or general scope of where genetic counselors practice, and many physicians lack sufficient knowledge on genetics, inconsistency in genetic testing and counseling is detrimental to providing proper patient care. This study highlights the need for a broader agenda and policy directive for the delivery of genetic services, specifically genetic counseling, within a medical setting. The public health implications of this research are vast as this is a critical turning point in the field of genetics and its integration into clinical medicine.